Page 90: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (June 1998)

SHIP & BOATBUILDING TECHNOLOGY

The new NSW .RIB for the Novy Seal^pP everywhere ... in a hurry

By-Greg Trauthwein, editorial director

Fast, in a word, describes the new Naval Special Warfare Rigid

Inflatable Boat (NSW RIB) built for the Navy SEALs. But while speed is an overriding characteris- tic, these truly amazing new boats incorporate a host of design and outfitting advances which provide them with outstanding overall per- formance.

Maritime Reporter &

Engineering News was recently invited to ride along on the 12th (of a total order of 72) new NSW RIB built by United States Marine Inc. (New Orleans). The 36 x 10.5 ft. (11 x 3.2 m) vessels are designed to transport a fully equipped team of eight Navy SEALs and three crew on short-range insertion and extraction missions, in a low to medium-threat environment. The aramid fibers. The rigid hull gains added buoyancy and ten- dering from an inflatable spon- son manufactured by Demaree

Inflatable Boats (Friendsville,

Md.).

The hull and inflatable sponsons provide for an incredibly smooth ride, particularly on rough waters.

As Chris Bukosky, the deputy program manager (and our "cap- tain" for the day) explained, the hulls can absorb a 30G shock, with only 4G felt on the occupant's feet.

United States Marine special- izes in custom mixed vinylester

PDGOxddq^ ^©DlD ^MnmlflUm, JSnt^xSWii boats replace a variety of 24 to 33-ft. (7.3 to 10-m) vessels used by Special Boat Units since 1987

From The Hull Up

While the NSW RIBs feature the latest in outfitting and equipment technology, the basis for the vessel's performance is a proven hull design from United

States Marine. The hull is a deep V composite fiberglass design constructed of vinylester resin reinforced with Kevlar

HULL STRUCTURE MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

NOW A VAILABLE!

AN INNOVATIVE SYSTEM FOR COST EFFECTIVE

MANAGEMENT OF SHIPS'STRUCTURE

MAINTENANCE.

PC based system built on scaled CAD drawings that operates in a Microsoft Office environment Text and graphical storage and retrieval of survey findings and repairs - direct from your PC to a standard laser printer.

V Easy access viewing and printing of design infonnation.

V Prints pocket size graphical Inspection Booklets for recording survey findings at ship.

VStores and retrieves visual and thickness measured data.

VBuilds repair estimates and specifications.

VStores and retrieves repair records.

V Optional coating condition module available.

Acknowledged and accepted by Classification Societies with clients in mind!

PCS Marine Technologies Inc.

Providing condition assessment, maintenance management and engineering support services — worldwide! 22-174 COLONNADE ROAD SOUTH. NEPEAN. ONTARIO, CANADA K2E 7J5

TEL: 1-613-224-2177 FAX:1-613-224-4185 E-MAIL: [email protected]

Repair

SptcMcMbnt

Maintenance

Predictions u and epoxy resins used with Kevlar, carbon fiber and other advanced materials. It takes United States

Marine 70 days to produce one boat (at any one time there are five to six boats being built simultaneous- ly), and much of that time is con- sumed with ensuring the hull is coated correctly.

The 72-vessel order for United

States Marine is actually a unique one, not only because of its size, but because it allows the manufacturer to take advantage of the benefits of series production. Mr. Bukosky said one of the lessons learned thus far along on the project is to "take as much of the manufacturing as possible off of the hull, until the last moment."

This means the facility utilizes the full benefits of modular con- struction.

But as Tom Dreyfus from

United States Marine pointed out, the yard has built its business and reputation on its ability to take an idea and produce a cost-effective product in a relatively short time. "Our forte is special projects. On one project, we took an initial thought to a final product in one year," he said.

Military work accounts for 90 percent of United States Marine's business, and surprisingly, in the era of slashed military budgets and commercial diversification, the yard is very pleased to keep this ratio. "We're geared to the military business, and that gives us advan- tage over others," said Mr.

Dreyfus.

The company's clout is evident in its new development projects. To bid on new projects cost effectively,

United States Marine enlists the help of its key suppliers, particu- larly on the propulsion side, to donate equipment for the prototype with the possibility of garnering the benefits of a big, long-term con- tracts, such as the NSW RIB pro- ject.

Dressed For Success

The NSW RIB series is powered 92 Circle 225 on Reader Service Card Maritime Reporter/Engineering News